The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-23
DIsoRAcEFuL SCENE
In the New York Senate.-Lieutenant
Governor Jones Liable to be
Impeached.

ALBANY, N. Y, April GA most dis
graceful scene occurred in the Senate shortly
after noon today. A message was received
from Governor Hill in regard to his nomina-
tions for railroad commissioner. The Senate
refused to receive it, and the clerks declined
to read it, so Lieutenant Governor Jones
read it himself amid the most violent pro-
tests of the Republican Senators. As a re-
suit the Republican majority will try to have
the Lieutenant Governor impeached. 1t had
been rumored during the morning session
that the Governor would send in message
rejecting on the Republicans for their re-
peated refusals to act on his various nomina-
tlons to the railroad commission. The rou-
tine business was nearly completed shortly
after one o'clock, when motion to adjourn
till Monday night was made. The Demo-
Gratis claim this was done to escape from re-
celylng the message. In the midst of the
roll call the Governors private secretary,
Colonel Rice, hurriedly entered the room
with roll of paper tied with blue ribbon.
The Lieutenant Governor annouced the sec
retary's presence and raped for him to pro-
ceed to the front with his message. The Re-
publicans demanded thelroll call on the mo-
ton to adjourn be proceeded with. Half a
dozen of them were on their feet at a time,
the Lieutenant Governor rapping necessarily
for order The sergeant-at-arms proceeded
with the private secretary to the centre of
the area, and their progress was stayed ten
minutes or more while the widest confusion
prevailed all around the circle. The Repub-
licans demanded the roll call on the adjourn
ment, the Democrats yelling at the top of
their voices to the chair to proceed with re-
ception of the message. Points of order
were made by the Republicans, but not rec
Ognized.
Lieutenant Governor Jones, after twice
asking the Republican clerk to read the
message, and being refused, sent down his
personal clerk for the message. The Repub-
licans denounced this proceeding and
shouted out "that the message is to the SEN
ate, and not to the Lieutenant Governor
and you are laying yourself liable to extreme
discipline by taking it."
'Will you read n" again asked Lieuten-
ant Governor Jones of the clerk
The clerk turned away.
why don't you read it yourself?' shouted
a Democrat Don't fool with em any
longer"
The Republicans again warned Jones that
ne had no right to touch the message. Then
the Lieutenant Governor read the message
amid an upr0ar that prevented word from
being heard. Members of the Assembly
pressed their way into the chamber to hear
what the row. was about, and matters looked
knock-down was imminent hurried from
the room.
After the message was read, or the form of
reading had been completed by Mr. Jones,
there was a momentary lull, after which, on
demand of Senator Baines, the roll call on
the question of adjournment was proceeded
with. As one after another was called, the
Senators of both parties spoke with refer
ence to the extraordinary scene that had just
occurred. The Republicans took the ground
that the Lieutenant Governor had been
guilty of usurpation, unparliamentaIy con-
duct, and an illegal act. The opinion was
expressed, with various degrees of empha-
sis, that the only recourse left the majority
of the Senate was to have him placed on
trial by impeachment proceedings.
Before announcing the result on the me-
tion to adjourn Lieutenant Governor Jones
started TO make an explanation.
Mr.. Pitts, president pro tenn, objected.
The Lieutenant Governor began twice to
speak, but the Republican Senators began
leaving the room: Jones begged the courtesy
oil the Senate to hearing an explanation, but
no attention was paid to the request. He
stated if no explanation would be accepted
he would leave the matter in that shape.
The Senate he then declared adjourned till
Monday evening.
After the session the sense of the Repub-
lican Senators was almost unanimous in
favor OF asking the Assembly to institute
impeachment proceedings against Jones' A
Republican Senatorial conference will be
held here Monday night to decide upon
COURSE 70 Do puTSutu. L ue lmpedcnmenL OIL the
Lieutenant Governor is governed by the pro-
ceedings provided for in the case of impeach-
ment Of the Governor A majority vote of
the Assembly is competent to prefer articles
of impeachment. The court consists of the
Senate and Court of Appeals sitting together
and a two-thirds vote of that joint body is
necessary for removal. The Senate and
Court of Appeals number 80 together. The
Republicans have % of that number, and
the Democrats 16. On a partisan trial as
this would be the Republicans are not strong
enough to remove.
The Governors message opens with re-
cital of the Governors powers in the matter
of nominations, and with the opinion that
the Senates duty is either to confirm or re-
ject nominations, and not "hang up" indef-
nitely. He then recites the various nomina-
tions for railroad commissioners in the
action OF the Senate, and the vain effort to
induce that body to go into executive ses-
sion for the consideration of nominations.
He notes and denies tthe accusation that the
nominations were not made in good faith,
and intimates a similar lack of good faith on
the Senate's part. He.then says: II seek
by this communication to inform the Senate
that / respectfully decline to be placed in
any false position on one hand, or to do the
Senate any injustice, or discourtesy on the
other. If the Senate actually desires further
time to consider the nominations of Arm
strong and Buckee, or is now desirouS Of
confirming them, | am anxious to oblige
your honorable body. If by resolution or
in some other proper formal manner the
Senate shall communicate its desire or will
ingness to consider the nominations, or to
confirm them / announce to the Senate that l
will cheerfully withdraw the present nomi-
nations, and retranSmit the nominations of
Armstrong and Buckee for its favorable ac-
ton. await the pleasure of the Senate in